Wall washing apparatus



July 20, 1965 J. A. WISNER WALL WASHING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 24, 1963 l N VEN TOR. Man [e Jam A July 20, 1965 J. A. WISNER 3,195,166

WALL WASHING APPARATUS Filed July 24, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lh ldvn HHHHI HHHH ull INVENTCR. Jaw/v A. W/s/vm A rmen/5 V5.

United States Patent filice 3,l@ ,l 5 5 Eatented July 20, 1965 3,195,166 WALL WASHENG AEPAEATUS .iohn A. Wisner, 524W 'Eiihury Way, Homeland,

altiniore 12, Md. Filed duly 24, 1963, Ser. No. 37,316 '7 Elaims. (*Ci. l5--3Z1) T his invention relates to a wall washing apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for wasmng and damp drying a wall or other such surface.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a wall washing apparatus which is sturdy and durable in construction, simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to assemble, utilize, and maintain.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of a wall washing apparatus adapted to apply a film or layer of a cleaning solution such as a detergent or the like onto a surface to be washed to loosen the soil therefrom and then to remove the loosened soil and detergent or cleaning solution from the surface leaving the same in a damp dry condition.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a special cleaning head for use in combination with a source of cleaning solution and a source of wet vacuum pickup wherein the cleaning head includes dispensing means adapted to withdraw a quantity of cleaning solution from the source thereof, an applicator means adapted to spread the quantity of cleaning solution in a layer on the surface to be cleaned and a vacuum means communicating with the source of wet vacuum pickup and adapted to remove the cleaning solution and any soil loosened thereby.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type described having an applicator means consisting of a sponge which is disposable, the remainder of the components of the apparatus being permanent in nature.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a cleaning head with an applicator means having a center section through which the cleaning solution is dispensed and oppositely disposed side sections separated from the center section by a barrier means and communicating with the source of wet vacuum pickup to remove the used cleaning solution.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cleaning head having means incorporated therein for catching and removing any dripping cleaning solution to facilitate the washing operation,

Still another object of the instant invention is the provision of a wall washing apparatus having a cleaning head with an applicator means including apertures communicating with a vacuum chamber to remove cleaning solution and loosened soil wherein relief apertures are provided in communication with at least some portions of the vacuum means to facilitate moving the applicator means over the surface to be washed, the relief apertures being closed by pressure against the front or applicator surface to increase the vacuum pickup after the cleaning solution has been applied.

Other and further obects reside in the combination of elements, arrangement of parts, and features of construction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the wall washing apparatus of the instant invention, a source of pressurized cleaning solution and a source of wet vacuum pickup being shown schematically;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged plan view taken substantially on line -i-l of FIGURE 2 and showing the rear surface of the sponge applicator;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged plan view taken substantially on line 5 of FIGURE 2 and showing the front surface of the base member of the cleaning head of the instant invention;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view to a smaller scale of the sponge applicator taken substantially on line 5-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view to a smaller scale of the base member taken substantially on line 7-7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is an enlar ed fragmentary cross-sectional view through a portion of the cleaning head of the instant invention showing in dotted lines the closing of the relief apertures upon pressure on the sponge applicator;

FEGURE 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9 of FIGURE 2 and showing the cap member of the cleaning head of the instant invention;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view taken substantially on line lllll of FIGURE 1 showing the assembled cleaning head;

FIGURE i1 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on line llli of FIGURE 10; and

FXGURE 12 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on line l2il2 of FIGURE 10.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the wall washing apparatus of the instant invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 2% in FIGURE 1 and includes a source of pressurized cleaning solution 22, a source of wet vacuum pickup 24, and a cleaning head 26 to be described in further detail hereinafter.

The source of pressurized cleaning solution may take a variety of forms and the specific structure is not limiting on the instant inventive concept. For example, a tank may be supplied with any conventional cleaning solution, such as detergent or the like, and a hand actuated pump means may be -operatively connected thereto to maintain a pretermined supera-tmospheric pressure above the cleaning solution so that a quantity of solution will always be available for dispensing in a manner to be described in detail hereinafter. Alternately, a tank of gas under pres sure such as carbon dioxide or the like may be operatively connected to the cleaning solution container in any conventional manner.

The source of wet vacuum pickup may be of any commercially available form, such as the heavy duty vacuum cleaner manufactured by Black & Decker, Model No. -1 or other similar structures.

The cleaning head 26 is comprised basically of a sponge applicator 23, a base member 39, an a cap member 32, the former defining an applicator means and the latter two in combination defining a vacuum means.

The sponge applicator 28 may be formed of either natural sponge or any commercially available artificial sponge material, such as Dupont cellulose sponge. The sponge applicator 23 may be in any desired configuration but is preferably rectangular or substantially rectangular as shown being divided into three longitudinally extending sections, two side sections 34 and 35 and a center section 58, preferably slightly thicker than the side sections as see-n in the drawings. The side sections 34 and 36 are segregated from the center section 38 of the sponge applicator 28 by a thin strip of a semiporous plastic material preferably a flexible foamed plastic such as foam polyethylene or the like forming barrier members 40 and 42 so that.

the contact therebetween vacuum tight.

Q) Vacuum being drawn through the side sections 34 and 36 in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter, will not affect the center section 33. A plurality of longitudinally spaced dispensing apertures, 44 are defined through the center section 33, fivebeing shown for illustrative convenience. Similarly, a plurality of longitudinally spaced vacuumapertures i are defined through each of the side sections 3 4 and 36, seven such apertures being illustrated, with transversely extending relief apertures 4being definedfrom at leastsome of the vacuum apertures4 6 extending to the side surfaces of the side sections 34 and 36. for a purpose to be described in more detail hereinafter. Also, additional vacuum apertures 50- plic ator' 28, Thefront surface of the base member is glued or otherwise secured to the rear surface of the sponge applicator 28 and each of the side sections 52 and 54 of the base member 30 have longitudinally extending grooves 56, and 58 defined therein. which, when assembled with the sponge applicator 28, are aligned with the vacul i apertures 46. A plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 60 extend from the grooves 56 and 58 inwardly to the rear surface of the base member 39 and apertures 62 are defined through the center section 51 of the base member 3i) adjacent the top and bottom ends thereof which, when assembled with the sponge applicator 28, are aligned with the additional vacuum apertures therein.

Embedded in a groove in the center section 51 of the base member 30 is a manifold member 64 forming part of a dispensing means and including a plurality of longitudinally spaced distributing members 66 extending from,

and communicating with, themanifold member 64, eachv distributing member 66 being capped with a tubular conduit 68 Which, in assembled relationship, passes through one of the dispensing apertures 44 defined in the sponge applicator 28. A feed conduit 70 is secured over oneend of' the manifold member 64 and is operatively connected to one opening of a conventional spring pressed valve means 72; the'other opening thereof being secured to an additional feed conduit74 which passes through a pres sure sealed aperture 76in a cap member 32 to be removably connected in any conventional way at 70 to a cleaning solution conduit 80 communicating with the source of pressurized cleaning solution 22.

The cap member 32'may be formed of metal, plastic, or the like, and is substantially hollow having the valve means 7-2'secured to one side thereof and including an enlarged spout 82 at one end thereof for connecting to a vacuum hose S4 communicating with the source of wet vacuum pickup 24,

Aligned apertures are defined through thebase member 30 and the cap member 32 through which elongated bolts 36-may be passed, with sealing washers 88 and Wing nuts 90r-emovably securing the base member 30 to the cap member 32. A gasket or sealing member 94formed of any conventional material is interposed between the edges of the cap member 32 and the base member 30 to render V The base member 30 and cap member 32 define a vacuum chamber 6 incommunication with each of the apertures 60 and 62 in the base member 30.

The use and operation of the apparatus of the instant invention will now be apparent. The base member 30 and the capmember 32 are assembled by means of the bolts 86, sealing members 88, and wing nuts 90 and a sponge applicator 28-.is secured to the front surface of the base member 39 in any conventional manner. The vacuum hose 84 from the wet vacuum pickup 24 is attachedto the spout 82 and the cleaning solution conduit from the pressurized cleaning solution source 22 is connected to the dispensing means in preparation for the washing operation. This surface to be washed, which in the drawings is designated schematically by the reference numeral 98, is then contacted by the front surface of the sponge applicator 23. The operator then presses the button on the valve means 72 allowing a quantity of cleaning solutionto pass from the source 22 through the conduit 89, the connection 78, the conduit 74, the valve means '72, the conduit 76, and the manifold member 64 into each of the distributing members 66 and the conduit 68 to be fed to the front surface of the center section 38 of the sponge applicator 23. The cleaning head 26 is then moved over the area to be washed continuously applying and spreading a layer of the cleaning solution. In the event of a particularly soiled surface the sponge applicator 28 may be rubbed thereover in a Well known manner to facilitate in loosening the soil. The used cleaning solution and any soil loosened thereby is continuously re-.

moved from the surface or wall being washed through the vacuum apertures 46 in the sponge applicator 28, the grooves 58. and the apertures 56 in the base member 30, to the vacuum chamber 96 and then through the spout 32 and the vacuum hose 84 to the source of wet vacuum pickup 24 thereby substantially drying the cleaned surface 98. Since the center section 38 of the sponge applicator 28 is for the most part sealed off from the side sections 34 and 36 containing the vacuum apertures, the cleaning solotion is freely applied. The pull of the vacuum on the surface 98 being cleaned is reduced during thedispensing operation by the relief apertures 48, thus permitting the sponge applicator 28 to be readily glided over the surface 98. When pressure is applied to the sponge applicator 28 the reliefholes 48 are closed as shown in dotted lines in FIGURES and a miximum vacuum is pulled through the vacuum apertures 46 in each side section of the sponge applicator 28; This clears the surface 98 of loosened soil and detergentsolution, leaving the same in a damp dry condition. Any dripping cleaning solution is constantly caught-and removed from the surface 8 by the vacuum apertures 50 inthe center section 33 of the. sponge applicator 28' which communicate with the apertures 62 in the base member 3l leading to the vacuum chamber 96. It may only be necessary toprovide a single. such means for catching drips at the bottom end of the cleaning head 26 but for convenience sake a plurality of drip catching means may be incorporated at both the bottom and top ends thereof in the event that thecleaning head is turned upside down in use. The constant flowing of clean detergent or cleaning solution through the sponge applicator 28 will maintain this element in a clean condition. When the sponge applicator 28 is worn ,out it may be readily stripped from the base member 30 and replaced.

While the specification has been directed specifically to an apparatus for the washing of walls, and although the particular constructionset forth has been designed primarily for this function, it is to be understood that it is within the scope of the instant invention to utilize the cleaning apparatus for the Washing or cleaning of any surface, such as floors, ceilings, or the like. Also, it will be readily seen that the structure shown in the instant. application will function satisfactorily regardless of the particu lar texture of the surface to be, washed, such as plaster, stucco, brick, stone, shingle, or the like.

It will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved wall Washing apparatus which satisfiesall of. the objects of the instant invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance. 7

Since manyembodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

For example, it can be readily seen that instead of gluing the sponge applicator 2% directly to the base 30, it can be glued or otherwise secured to a thin metal or plastic backing (not shown) with any conventional means such as spring clips or the like being provided to removably engage the backing to the base Ell. A peripheral gasket secured to either the backing or the base can preclude escape of vacuum at this interface. Then the sponge applicator and integral backing may be readily removed from the base 31? for replacement.

I claim:

1. A wall washing apparatus comprising means providing a source of cleaning solution, means providing a source of wet vacuum pickup, and a cleaning head, said cleaning head including a dispensing means, an applicator means, and a vacuum means, said dispensing means being operatively connected to said source of cleaning solution for withdrawing a quantity of said cleaning solution therefrom, said applicator means being juxtaposed to an outlet portion of said dispensing means for spreading said quantity of cleaning solution in a layer on a wall to be washed, and said vacuum means being in communication with said source of wet vacuum pickup and with a portion of said applicator means for removing said layer of cleaning solution and loosened soil from said wall, said applicator means including a sponge applicator having a front surface, a rear surface, a top end, a bottom end, and oppositely disposed side surfaces, said sponge applicator being divided into two side sections and an intermediate center section, said outlet portion of said dispensing means feeding said quantity of said cleaning solution to said front surface of said center portion of said sponge applicator, said vacuum means communicating with said front surface of said side sections of said sponge applicator to remove at least the major portion of said layer of cleaning solution and loosened soil therefrom, and a flexible barrier member interposed between said central section and each of said side sections of said sponge applicator.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vacuum means also communicates with said front surface of said center section of said sponge applicator adjacent at least said bottom end thereof to catch and re move dripping cleaning solution.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said vacuum means communicates with said front surface of said center section adjacent both said top and bottom ends thereof.

4. A wall washing apparatus comprising means providing a source of cleaning solution, means providing a source of wet vacuum pickup, and a cleaning head, said cleaning head including a dispensing means, an applicator means, and a vacuum means, said dispensing means being operatively connected to said source of cleaning solution for withdrawing a quantity of said cleaning solution therefrom, said applicator means being juxtaposed to an outlet portion of said dispensing means for spreading said quantity of cleaning solution in a layer on a wall to be washed, and said vacuum means being in communication with said source of wet vacuum pickup and with a portion of said applicator means for removing said layer of cleaning solution and loosened soil from said wall, said applicator means including a sponge applicator having a front surface, a rear surface, a top end, a bottom end, and oppositely disposed side surfaces, said sponge applicator being divided into two side sections and an intermediate center section, said outlet portion of said dispensing means feeding said quantity of said cleaning solution to said front surface of said center portion of said sponge applicator, and said vacuum means communicating with said front surface of said side sections of said sponge applicator to remove at least the major portion of said layer of cleaning solution and loosened soil therefrom, said vacuum means including a cap member and a base member, said base member having a front surface and a rear surface and being secured to said cap member with said rear surface of said base member nd sid cap member defining a vacuum chamber therebetween, said vacuum chamber being in communication with said source of wet vacuum pickup, said base member having two side sections and an intermediate center section corresponding to said side and center sections of said sponge applicator, and said rear surface of said sponge applicator being secured to said front surface of said base member, a longitudinally extending groove defined in said front surface of each side section of said base member, a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures defined through said base member between each of said grooves and said rear surface of said base member within said vacuum chamber, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced vacuum apertures defined through each of said side sections of said applicator sponge between-said front and rear surfaces thereof, said vacuum apertures communicating with said grooves, means defining transversely extending relief apertures between at least some of said vacuum apertures and each side surface of said sponge applicator, said relief apertures being closed by pressure against said front surface of said sponge applicator.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein at least one aperture is defined through said center section of said base member adjacent said bottom end thereof in communication with said vacuum chamber, and at least one vacuum aperture aligned therewith is defined through said center section of said sponge applicator to catch and remove dripping cleaning solution.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein apertures are defined through said center section of said base member adjacent both said top and bottom ends thereof, and corresponding aligned vacuum apertures are defined through said center section of said sponge applicator.

7. In a cleaning apparatus including sponge means having a front surface, a rear surface, and side surfaces, a plurality of continuous open vacuum apertures extending entirely through said sponge means from said rear surface to said front surface, and a vacuum means operatively connected to said rear surface to Withdraw fluid through said apertures from a surface being cleaned which is engaged by said front surface of said sponge means, the improvement which comprises transversely extending continuous open relief apertures defined between at least some of said apertures and each side surface of said sponge means, said relief apertures being closed by pressure against said front surface.

References fitted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,240,005 4/41 Moyer. 2,506,077 5/50 Goldsmith 15322 2,631,326 3/53 Smith 15-419 X 3,135,986 6/64 Tolin 15375 FOREIGN PATENTS 970,137 6/50 France. 569,799 2/33 Germany.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WALL WASHING APPARATUS COMPRISING MEANS PROVIDING A SOURCE OF CLEANING SOLUTION, MEANS PROVIDING A SOURCE OF WET VACUUM PICKUP, AND A CLEANING HEAD, SAID CLEANING HEAD INCLUDING A DISPENSING MEANS, AN APPLICATOR MEANS, AND A VACUUM MEANS, SAID DISPENSING MEANS BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SOURCE OF CLEANING SOLUTION FOR WITHDRAWING A QUANTITY OF SAID CLEANING SOLUTION THEREFROM, SAID APPLICATOR MEANS BEING JUXTAPOSED TO AN OUTLET PORTION OF SAID DISPENSING MEANS FOR SPREADING SAID QUANTITY OF CLEANING SOLUTION IN A LAYER ON A WALL TO BE WASHED, AND SAID VACUUM MEANS BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID SOURCE OF WET VACUUM PICKUP AND WITH A PORTION OF SAID APPLICATOR MEANS FOR REMOVING SAID LAYER OF CLEANING SOLUTION AND LOOSENED SOIL FROM SAID WALL, SAID APPLICATOR MEANS INCLUDING A SPONGE APPLICATOR HAVING A FRONT SURFACE, A REAR SURFACE, A TOP END, A BOTTOM END, AND OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SIDE SURFACES, SAID SPONGE APPLICATOR BEING DIVIDED INTO TWO SIDE SECTIONS AND AN INTERMEDIATE CENTER SECTION, SAID OUTLET PORTION OF SAID DISPENSING MEANS FEEDING SAID QUANTITY OF SAID CLEANING SOLUTION TO SAID FRONT SURFACE OF SAID CENTER PORTION OF SAID SPONGE APPLICATOR, SAID VACUUM MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FROANT SURFACE OF SAID SIDE SECTIONS OF SAID SPONGE APPLICATOR TO REMOVE AT LEAST T HE MAJOR PORTION OF SAID LAYER OF CLEANING SOLUTION AND LOOSENED SOIL THEREFROM, AND A FLEXIBLE BARRIER MEMBER INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID CENTRAL SECTION AND EACH OF SAID SIDE SECTIONS OF SAID SPONGE APPLICATOR.
 7. IN A CLEANING APPARATUS INCLUDING SPONGE MEANS HAVING A FRONT SURFACE, A REAR SURFACE, AND SIDE SURFACES, A PLURALITY OF CONTINUOUS OPEN VACUUM APERTURES EXTENDING ENTIRELY THROUGH SAID SPONGE MEANS FROM SAID REAR SURFACE TO SAID FRONT SURFACE, AND A VACUUM MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID REAR SURFACE TO WITHDRAW FLUID THROUGH SAID APERTURES FROM A SURFACE BEING CLEANED WHICH IS ENGAGED BY SAID FRONT SURFACE OF SAID SPONGE MEANS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING CONTINUOUS OPEN RELIEF APERTURES DEFINED BETWEEN AT LEAST SOME OF SAID APERTURES AND EACH SIDE SURFACE OF SAID SPONGE MEANS, SAID RELIEF APERTURES BEING CLOSED BY PRESSURE AGAINST SAID FRONT SURFACE. 